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California law recognizes two types of custody:

• Legal Custody: Refers to the right to make important decisions about the child's health, education, and welfare. Legal custody can be joint (shared by both parents) or sole (awarded to one parent).
• Physical Custody: Refers to where the child lives and who is responsible for the child's day-to-day care. Physical custody can also be joint (the child lives with both parents at different times) or sole (the child lives primarily with one parent).

Determining Custody:  The primary consideration in determining custody is the best interests of the child. Factors considered by the court include:

• The Child's Health, Safety, and Welfare: Ensuring the child's physical and emotional well-being is paramount.
• The Child's Relationship with Each Parent: The court examines the bond between the child and each parent.
• Each Parent's Ability to Care for the Child: This includes evaluating the parents' mental and physical health.
• Any History of Abuse or Domestic Violence: The court takes allegations of abuse or domestic violence very seriously.
• The Child's Preference: Depending on the child's age and maturity, the court may consider their preference.
• Stability and Continuity: The court favors arrangements that provide stability in the child's life.

Parenting Plans:  In California, parents are encouraged to create a parenting plan that outlines custody and visitation arrangements which are in the best interests of the child.  A parenting plan should include:

• Schedules: Specific times and dates for when the child will be with each parent.
• Holidays and Vacations: Arrangements for holidays, birthdays, and vacations.
• Decision-Making: Guidelines for how parents will make decisions about the child's upbringing.
• Communication: Methods for resolving disputes and communicating about the child's needs.

Types of Visitation:  Visitation, also known as "parenting time," can take several forms:

• Scheduled Visitation: A detailed schedule specifying when the child will be with each parent.
• Reasonable Visitation: Flexible arrangements that allow parents to work out visitation as they go along.
• Supervised Visitation: When a third party supervises the visits to ensure the child's safety, often used in cases involving concerns about a parent's behavior.
• No Visitation: In extreme cases where visitation with a parent would be detrimental to the child, the court may order no visitation.